Water Development Board seeks public comments on new flood plans

AUSTIN – (July 25, 2019) – During the first two weeks of August, the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) will be hosting 13 flood meetings around the state to solicit comments from the public on the new state and regional flood planning process and the new flood financing program. Both programs were established during the last legislative session.

“The TWDB is holding these meetings prior to the required formal rulemaking process to help ensure that the new programs meet the needs of Texas communities,” said TWDB Chairman Peter Lake. “Stakeholder input is the most critical part of building this program so that it effectively reflects the diversity and magnitude of flood concerns in the state.”

The flood planning program will result in regional flood plans in 2023 and the first state flood plan in September 2024. Early efforts of the planning process will focus on setting up the regional flood planning groups.

“The flood planning process will resemble the state’s existing water planning process,” said TWDB Board Member Kathleen Jackson. “Each flood planning region will have a planning group with members representing various local interests.”

Using $793 million transferred from the Rainy Day Fund, the TWDB will also administer a new flood financing program. Designed to make drainage and flood project implementation more affordable for Texas communities, the program is intended to meet immediate needs for funding and will become available in 2020.

“The new flood funding program created by the Texas legislature demonstrates the State’s commitment to helping Texans recover from past floods and prepare for the future,” said Board Member Brooke Paup. “The TWDB is no less committed to developing this funding program as quickly as possible.”

All meetings are free and open to the public. No RSVP is required. The schedule and locations are:

Tuesday, Aug. 6

• LCRA Riverside Conference Center, 1405 Willow St., Bastrop, TX 78602, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• J. Michael & Bridget Shahan Events Center at Lamar State College, 209 W. Green Ave., Orange, TX 77630 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 7

• Ornelas Activity Center at The University of Texas at Tyler, 3402 Old Omen Rd., Tyler, TX 75707 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 8

• El Paso Water’s TecH2O Learning Center, 10751 Montana Ave., El Paso, TX 79935 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Trinity River Authority General Office, 5300 S. Collins St., Arlington, TX 76018 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Friday, Aug. 9

• McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center, 1666 University Ave., Lubbock, TX 79410 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Beckendorf Conference Center at Lone Star College–Tomball, 30555 Tomball Pkwy., Tomball, TX 77375 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 13

• Guadalupe Basin Natural Resource Center, Upper Guadalupe River Authority, 125 Lehmann Dr., Kerrville, TX 78028 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• City of Lake Jackson Civic Center, 333 Hwy. 332 E., Lake Jackson, TX 77566 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, Aug. 14

• The Cactus Hotel, 65 E. Twohig Ave, 15th floor, San Angelo, TX 76903 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Saltwater Pavilion at Rockport Beach. 210 Seabreeze Dr., Rockport, TX 78382 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Thursday, Aug. 15

• Abilene Convention Center, 1100 N. 6th St., Abilene, TX 79601 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.
• Texas A&M Higher Education Center at McAllen, 6200 Tres Lagos Blvd., McAllen, TX 78504 — 9:30-11:30 a.m.